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Nigeria end win drought beating Bosnia 1-0

Nigeria's win, their first at a World Cup finals since 1998, leaves them as favourites to join Argentina in the second round

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AFP PTI Cuiaba (Brazil)
Bosnia-Herzegovina's maiden appearance at a World Cup finals ended in disappointment as Peter Odemwingie's goal condemned them to a 1-0 defeat by African champions Nigeria in Cuiaba and ensured they could not qualify for the second round.

Nigeria's win, their first at a World Cup finals since 1998, leaves them as favourites to join Argentina in the second round.

Argentina are on six points after beating Iran 1-0 earlier on Saturday to leave the Iranians on a point while the Nigerians are on four points.

Nigeria play Argentina in their final group game on Thursday -- the Africans have lost all three times they have previously played the South American side in the group stages, losing 1-0 on the last occasion in 2010.
 
Nigeria were a completely different team to the one that had barely got out of a Sunday morning stroll in the 0-0 draw with Iran.

Emmanuel Emineke always looked a threat and it was he who created the goal, as he burst down the right and engaged in a race for the ball with veteran Bosnian skipper Emir Spahic, who tried vainly to obstruct the Nigerian.

However, the central defender had completely misjudged the situation as Emineke went the opposite side and outpaced him to collect the ball before unselfishly squaring it to Peter Odemwingie, with the Stoke City striker tucking the ball away.

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First Published: Jun 22 2014 | 6:00 AM IST

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